Have a Happy, Relaxing Holiday!

All of us at The Traveling Spa want to wish you a safe, happy and relaxing holiday! See you in 2013!

Say Goodbye to Dry, Flaky Lips!

This time of year, it is so easy for lips to become dry and flaky. The harsh environment outside, the changes in temperature from the cold outdoors to the warm indoors and constant lip licking to keep lips moist is a recipe for disaster!

Try this quick and simple lip scrub using ingredients that you have in your kitchen to both exfoliate and soften dry lips.

Bye, Bye Dry Lips Sugar Scrub

1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon sunflower or olive oil
1/2 teaspoon honey

1. Mix all ingredients in a small container with a lid.
2. Apply a small amount to a soft, dry toothbrush and apply to lips in a gentle circular motion.
3. Remove the scrub with a warm, damp cloth.
4. Finish by applying your favorite lip balm.

Voila! Instantly soft lips. You can use this lip scrub 2-3 times a week or as needed to keep the flakies away.

Help for Holiday Stress

With the holidays right around the corner and the stress that can come with them, it is important to remember to take time out for yourself. Here are five ways you can relax and recharge so you can have balance and energy this season.

• Take a short walk outside. When your day starts to get stressful, breathing the fresh, cool outdoor air and moving your body will energize and refresh you.

• Set the timer for 1 hour each day and do something that feeds your soul. Grab a book, sip a cup of tea, call a friend or just sit and daydream. Make this date with yourself and stick to it.

• Move your body for 30 minutes each day. With the bustle of the season, it is easy to skip workouts to get all of the things on your to-do list done. Exercise helps our bodies to better handle and manage stress. Even if you can’t fit in a whole workout, try to commit to at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. 

• Prepare a healthy meal. During the hectic holiday season, it is easy to grab unhealthy food while on-the-go. Unhealthy, empty calories will surely drain your energy and make it difficult to get through your day. Plan ahead for meals, incorporating plenty of whole foods, fruits, vegetables, quality proteins and whole grains

• Take a relaxing, warm bath. At the end of your busy day, turn off the TV, radio and cell phones and slip into a warm tub escape for 15 minutes. A warm bath can soak away a stressful day.

What other ways do you find balance during the holidays?

Healthy Fall Comfort Food

The weather has turned chilly - must be time for chili! Check out this deliciously different and healthy Pumpkin Black Bean Chili recipe from Gracious Pantry.

We gave it a try and are certainly hooked! It is the perfect combination of hearty, with a touch of sweet and spicy. Plus, it is loaded with nutrition and fiber. Definitely a fall favorite comfort food!

Stay warm!

Help For Dry Skin

The arrival of cold weather brings the arrival of dry skin. Here are a few tips and techniques from the Skin Care for Your Soul blog to help keep your skin soft and smooth during the coming months!

General Tips To Prevent Dry Skin

• Drink plenty of water and/or coconut water to help keep your skin hydrated. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to also increase hydration in your body.
• Try to avoid caffeinated drinks, as they dry out your skin. If you must have your coffee in the morning, drink an extra glass of water for each cup.
• Try to avoid alcohol, as it also dehydrates your skin.
• When headed outside, cover your skin as much as possible with clothing. Cover any areas of exposed skin with a thick lotion to prevent moisture loss.
• Apply lip balm frequently throughout the day, especially before you go outside.
• Keep baths and showers short and warm (not hot). Hot water dries skin out by stripping your skin of its natural oils. 
• Add fatty fish, like salmon, to your diet or take a good quality fish oil. The good omega-3 fatty acids help to keep skin moist.
• Avoid using harsh cleansers, soaps or exfoliants. These will only further strip your skin and lead to dryness.

General Tips to Treat Dry Skin

• Gently exfoliate dry skin with a brush, loofah or exfoliating gloves as part of your body cleansing routine in the shower before using any topical treatments (oils, lotions, etc.). Dry, flaky skin needs to be removed from the surface of skin to allow topical treatments to work more effectively. Be SUPER gentle if your skin is overly sensitive and use these items only a few times a week. Avoid them if you have any rashes, open wounds or general irritation.
• Avoid cleansing your entire body every day, especially with a foaming soap or body wash, as they can strip your skin. Skip a day of sudsing, or wash only those most important bits daily.
• Use a body wash of 1 part honey to 1 part oil (jojoba is lovely) a few times a week in place of your regular soap. Incorporate thicker body lotions/butters containing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil into your daily post-shower routine. 
• Apply lotions, body butters, oils, etc. immediately after showering while your skin is still damp. You want to capture the water and seal it into your skin.
• Avoid using products with artificial ingredients (artificial colors, fragrances or preservatives), as they can dry and irritate skin, too.

I Tried It!: The NEW Traveling Spa Body Polish!

Renew your skin with Marmalade Hills Sugar Body Polish.

Like many of us, I rarely make pampering a priority for myself. Work, home and family make for a hectic schedule and "me" time always seems to fall to the bottom of the "to do" list. Sound familiar?

Desperate for some relaxation, I recently booked a spa party with some close family to allow some time to catch up, slow down and reconnect. Feeling like I needed to renew my dry skin - along with my spirit - I booked the NEW Traveling Spa Body Polish treatment featuring Marmalade Hills Sugar Body Polish, a local handmade Michigan product. I was soooooooo happy I did!

Our wonderful massage therapist, Sheryl, gently exfoliated my skin with the Lavender Sugar Body Polish, which contains skin moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil. After my skin was scrubbed to perfection, the body polish was removed with warm, relaxing towels. I was then treated to a luxurious application of Marmalade Hills Lavender Silk Body Butter (the nicest body butter I have ever experienced!). The treatment was so relaxing and my skin was left glowing and feeling like velvet. It was so soft, I couldn't stop touching it when I went out on the town later that night!

This service is great before a special event, to soften dry skin or to just be good to yourself. Plus it is only $25 when added on to a massage or facial service (or only $45 as a standalone treatment)!

Marmalade Hills Sugar Scrubs and Body Butters are also available to purchase at your next spa party to continue your pampering at home.

Make yourself a priority today. You deserve it. :)

Love, peace and relaxation,

Camille
Traveling Spa Aesthetician

Celebrate Sandal Season with our June Special!

It's sandal season! Celebrate with $10 off a Pedicure when you book a European Facial at a June Traveling Spa party!

Also, if you host a party this month, you will also receive half off all of your regularly priced services and a FREE luscious lime lip balm as a special gift.

Break out your flip flops and call to book your party today (586-612-7900)!

The Top Natural Sunscreens & Sun Safety Tips: The EWG 2012 Sunscreen Guide

Photo from the EWG 2012 Sunscreen Guide

It's here! The Environmental Working Group has posted its 2012 Sunscreen Guide!

This is the most comprehensive, go-to guide for finding out the top rated and safest natural sunscreens, SPF lip balms, moisturizers and other cosmetics. 

Don't miss Sunscreens Exposed - the eye-opening section on mass marketed sunscreens and why they are so harmful to your skin and health. Sun Safety Tips offers a quick reference on how to pick a safe sunscreen and ways for adults, teens and kids to enjoy the sun safely.

Enjoy these beautiful, sunny days!

Traveling Spa Mother's Day Special Package!

Treat Mom (or yourself) to a day of relaxation. During the whole month of May, The Traveling Spa will pamper her with this special package:

Choose 2 of the following services for $75, or choose all three for $110!

• 30-minute Swedish Massage
• Relaxation Facial
• Spa Pedicure

As our gift to you, this package also includes samples of luxurious body care items from our new organic product line! 

Call us today to book your spa party and this special package!

Lunchtime Meditation

Need a few minutes to unwind during your hectic day? Check out the Meditation Room brought to you by Organic Spa Magazine.

Select from six different virtual environments, including forest, mountain and sea. You will be taken on an audiovisual journey to help you relax and escape from the daily grind. It's like taking a mini-vacation on your lunch hour!

Easy Raw Food Snack Ideas for Kids (and Adults!)

Image from terawarner.com.

Looking for new, healthy snack ideas for your family? Check out this blog post from raw food guru, Tera Warner. It lists 16 good-for-you snacks that you can whip up in no time using whole, raw foods, which give a boost of both nutrition and energy.

While at Tera's site, be sure to sign up for the Raw Mom Club, a FREE club that offers ideas and support on how to keep your family healthy through eating raw foods on a busy schedule.

Nurture Yourself Through "Slow Beauty"

Image from Organic Spa Magazine online.

You may have heard of the "Slow Food" movement, where one connects to their food by sustainably growing it themselves, then consumes it with mindful peace and gratitude. A new movement called "Slow Beauty" is now emerging, which follows the same basic principle of taking it slow when it comes to body care.

The focus is not so much the end result of a beauty treatment, product or service, but rather the ritual process of nurturing one's own body and spirit in the process - taking the time to fully enjoy taking care of your body and incorporating it as an almost meditative exercise.

Sure, there are the days when we barely have enough time for a shower and a coat of lipgloss before the craziness begins. But when we do have the time, "Slow Beauty" allows us to reconnect and make those hectic days a distant memory. What a wonderful way to reconnect with the self...

Read a complete article on "Slow Beauty" and 7 ways you can incorporate it into your life here on the Organic Spa Magazine site.

How will you nurture your mind, body and spirit today?

The NEW Traveling Spa Newsletter!

Have you seen the NEW Traveling Spa Newsletter? Check out our March issue HERE!

Find out how you can get a FREE facial in March, how to make an easy and amazing Tortellini Salad and how to get FREE spa music at home!

We hope you enjoy this issue and would love to hear your feedback!

Spa Recipe Inspiration!

Photo of Spa Truffles from Travel to Wellness website.

Looking for a new recipe to spice up your next spa party or maybe just a new healthy recipe to try at home?

Check out this collection of spa recipes from Travel to Wellness. You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter for more of their yummy recipes from spas across the world.

We are definitely going to try out the Spa Truffles and  Strawberry and Rose Petal Salad for Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from The Traveling Spa! We hope that you had a joyful, restful holiday season! Wishing you joy and balance in 2012!